Engine-starter.



E. l. DEUTSCH.

ENGINE STARTER.

APPLICATION man NOV. 17. 19:6.

1 ,254, 2 1 3. Patented J an. 22, 1918,

2 SHEETS-SHEET E. l. DEUTSCH.

ENGINE STARTER.

APPLICATION FILED HOV-17. I915.

1,254,21 3. Patented Jan. 22, 1918.

2 SHEETS-SHEET 2.

M'I neSS e Mp M EDWARD I. DEUTSCH, OF CINCINNATI, OHIO.

ENGINE-STARTER.

Application filed November 17, 1916.

T 0 all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, EDWARD I. DEU'rscrr, a citizen of the United States, residing at Cincinnati, in the county of Hamilton and State of Ohio, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Engine-Starters, of which the following is a specification.

My invention relates to starters for on gines, of the type in which a pinion, adapted to be rotated by a starting motor, is brought into engagement with a gear having operative connection with a rotating part of the engine to be started, to impart the necessary rotation thereto in order to start the engine, and has for its object the provision of means whereby the pinion will be brought into substantially full mesh with the gear before power to move the pinion is applied thereto from the starting motor, thus insuring the proper meshing of the teeth of the gear and pinion without the liability of stripping the teeth; and obtaining advantage of the inertia of rotation of the rotating members oi the starting motor in addition to their normal torque; and has for its further object the arrangement of the pinion and gear with substantially parallel axes of rotation, and with teeth extending at angles to said axes of rotation, so that, after the engine has been started and attained sufiicient speed, the actuating pinion will be automatically disengaged from the gear.

A further object of my invention is to provide means for closing the circuit through the electric motor and moving the actuating pinion into operative position by a continuous operation, the parts being arranged however, so as to create an interval between the starting of the motor and the engagement of a rotating part thereof by the pinion, and further, to provide means whereby the movement of the pinion during said interval is under the control of the operator.

Other objects of my invention will appear as the description proceeds, the invention being readily understood from the following description and claims, and from the drawings, in which latter:

Figure 1 is a side elevation of an engine with my improved starter applied thereto and in its idle position.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented Jan. 22, 1918.

Serial No. 131,884.

Fig. 2 is an enlarged side elevation of the actuating pinion and its associated parts, with the pinion in operative position for starting the engine.

Fig. 3 is a fragmentary plan view showing the details of the finger tripping mechanism, and a modified form of connection between the motor-shaft and clutch carried thereby.

Fig. 4t is a longitudinal vertical section through the electric switch and pedal for operating the starter.

Fig. 5 is an enlarged transverse section on the line 5-5 of Fig. 2.

Fig. 6 is a similar section on the line 66 of Fig. 8.

Fig. 7 is a front end view of my invention, partly broken away; and,

Fig. 8 is an enlarged transverse section on the line 88 oi Fig. at.

In the present exemplification of my invention, 11 represents an internal combustion engine to which my improved starter is attached and is shown as comprising cylinders 12, a crank-shaft casing 13 having bearings l i for a crank-shaft l5, and a iiy-whsel 16 upon the crank-shaft. A starting motor 17, shown as an electric motor, is exemplified as secured to the side of the casing 13 by straps 18 which are preferably provided with alined guideways 19, supporting the slidable operating rod 20, this rod being prevented from rotating within the uideways, preferably by spline-keys "21, as shown in Fig. 5.

The drive-shaft exemplified as the armature-shaft of the electric motor extends through a bearing 23 carried by the motor, parallel to the axis of rotation of the rotating member of the engine, exemplified as the fly-wheel 16, which is adapted to carry a gear 24C. The gear 2k is meshed by a gear 25, hereinafter for convenience called a pinion. The pinion has a disk 26 secured thereto, the disk being of greater diameter than the pinion, so as to form an annular flange 27, which forms an engaged member for the axial movement of the pinion across the face of the gear.

The pinion is loosely mounted about the shaft 22 so that free endwise movement is had between said pinion and said shaft.

he pinion is provided with teeth 28 and the slight angle. The ends of the teeth are respectively chamfered, as shown at 30 and 81,

for providing ready 611Cl\ ise engagement between the teeth of the pinion and the teeth of the gear upon endwise movement of the pinion. toward the gear. This engagement is further aided by the frictional contact between the rotating shaft 22 and the wall of the bore of the pinion, caused at the instant a tooth. of the pinion encounters a tooth of the gear, by the fact that the force to axially move the pinion and the resistance of the striking teeth are out of line with one another, resulting in a twist being given to the pinion. at the instant of tooth encounter, which results in the frictional contact mentioned.

Endwise movementof the pinion toward the gear is caused by mechanism under the control of the operator to be presently described. This operating mechanism causes axial movement of the pinion parallel to the axis of rotation of the gear for causing engagement of the teeth of the pinion with the teeth of the gear and movement of the pinion across the face of the gear, this axial movement being accompanied by a slight rotary movement of the pinion, due to the angle of the teeth. It is understood that during this movement, the gear 24 is at rest.

Clutching means are provided for engaging th pinion 25 with the shaft 22 proximate to the end of the axial movement of the pinion. These clutching means are exemplified as comprising clutch-members 3;, 33, having cooperating clutch teeth provided with inclined rear faces 3iand 35 respectively. The clutch-member 32 is carried by the pinion 25 and the clutch-member 33 has connection with the shaft 22. In the form of my invention disclosed in Figs. 1 and 2, he clutch is mounted upon shaft 22 and is secured to one end of a spring 36 coiled about the shaft 22 and having its other end secured to a collar 37 which is fastened to the shaft, thereby causing the clutch-member to rotate with the armature-shaft but forming a slightly yieldable connection between the two, but if preferred the clutch-member may be rigidly connected to the armatureshaft, as by a set-screw 38, shown in Fig. 3. The clutch-member 33 is so positioned thatit will engage the clutch-member when the pinion 25 has been brought into substantial mesh with gear 24, the switch for the motor 17 having been previously closed, as will be hereinafter explained, causing rotation of shaft 22 and clutch-member 33. As soonas clutch-members 32 and contact, the axial thrust caused by said contact will force. the clutchmembers to fullyinteren gage, owing to the fact that the teeth are placed at such an angle that the ends of the teeth proximate to the clutch are, during rotation thereof, in advance of the ends of said teeth distanced from said clutch, and the pinion will then be pos 'ely rotated. It will be further noted, that since the shaft 22 and its armature are rotating before the load is applied thereto, when the cletch-members are brought into engagemc!it the inertia of rotation of the shaft and the armature of the motor will be transmitted to the pinion. which, through its engagement with gear it, will rotate the tly-wh eel of the engine to start the same, the inertia of rotation of the shaft and its armature thus assisting in furnishing power to turn the fly-wheel, thus it dueing the initial torque required of the motor and the drain the storage battery.

lVhen the engine has been started, and has'acquired a speed. so that the peripheral speed of the gear greater the" ripheral speed of the pinioin the faces 34 of the teeth of clutcln wi l, climb upon the inclined faces on o teeth of clutch-niember 33, disengaging the clutch-memlwrs. so that the pinion is again free from positive engagement with the shaft and is driven by the gear Owing to toe angle of the teeth of the gear and pinion, whereby en a] thrust will be exerted upon the pinion when being driven by the gear 2%lat greater speed than imparted thereto by the motor, the pinion will be moved axially across the face of the gear in the reverse direction to withoraw the pinion out of engz'igement with the gear and re turn it to i s idle position.

The means for moving the pinion ndwise to engage the gear, is shown as con fng of a finger it mounted upon the rod. 20 and preferably of such a length and so positioned to enga the pinion, preferably by abu ting against the rear face of the flange upon the same, so that a forward movement of rod 20 will more the pinion into mesh with the gear 2 L, such movement of the rod 20 first closing the circuit through the inotor, as will be more fully QXplttlHtXl.

'il 'he finger ll exemplified as mounted upon rod 20 by a bearing 42 preferably forn'ied integral with the linger and fitting over the rod, so that the linger may be rotated upon the rod to swing it out of engagement with the pinion. li'ieans are providedhow for normally holding the finin positions in which. it has been placed one of these positions hell 3 to engage the pinion, and such 11 being exemplified as consisting of a s washer i3 against s-chicli a plain washer is received, the bearing being .ield in place preferably by a collar adjustably 5601 ed upon the rod 20 byv set-screw the sprin -washer being ,preferabl 7 ositiened b 7 the bearin i6 of a :5 l

llU

finger 47, fixed to the rod by a set-screw 48 and arranged for movement of the pinion in the opposite direction and also adapted to hold the pinion in idle position by preventing the movement thereof toward the gear until the rod 20 is moved.

After the pinion is moved to its operative position by the finger 41, and the pinion has begun to rotate, the finger will be swung back out of the path of travel of the pinion, preferably by a roller 49 mounted upon the pinion-flange and adapted to engage the fin ger as the pinion rotates, so that when the pinion is automatically moved back out of engagement with the gear, it will be free to return to its idle position. The finger 41 is moved back by the roller only sufliciently,

due to the action of the springwasher, to move the finger beyond the longitudinal projection of the flange, and to maintain it within the line of a trip which acts to return the finger within said longitudinal projection.

The rod 20 is adapted to be moved to its forward position by manual means, by which. is meant, means which are moved by the operator, and which are exemplified as a pedal 50 connected to the rod 20. The rod is returned to initial position by means of a spring 51, shown surrounding the rod, acting between the guideway 19 and a collar 52 fixed to the rod. This movement of the rod causes the finger 41 to engage the trip, ex-

emplified as the inclined face 53 of a projection 54.

The preferred form of connection between the rod 20 and the pedal is shown in detail in Fig. 4, as comprising a casing 55 secured to the dash-board 56 of an automobile and having the end of the rod 20 slidably mounted therein in a bearing 57. A hollow tube 58 is rigidly secured to the rod by a setscrew 59. This hollow tube extends through a suitable opening 60 in the dash-board 56, terminating in the pedal 50 which is in position convenient to the operators foot. The pedal is shown secured to the tube by a setscrew 61.

An electric switch is located within the casing and is adapted to be closed when the rod 20 is moved for engagement of the pinion with the gear, during the initial portion of said movement. The switch is shown as con'iprising spaced contact-members 62 extending within the casing 55 and insulated therefrom by means of insulating collars 63. The spaced contact-members form the terminals of an electric circuit through the motor 17 and asuitable battery 64. They are adapted to be bridged by an electric conducting contact-ring 65 for closing said circuit. The contact-ring is on a slide 66 of insulating material which has a limited movement toward and from the contactmembers 62 for making and breaking the circuit. This is accomplished in the present exemplification of my invention by proriding the slide with a pin 67 which extends through opposed slots 68 in the tube 58. The tube 58 contains a spring 69 which is compressed between the pin 67 and the pedal 50. Movement of the contact-ring 65 away from the contactanembers is limited by the bearing 70 arranged to be engaged by the slide, this movement being induced by the longitudinal movement of the rod 20 caused by the spring 51, and the pin 6'7 being engaged by the end walls 71 of the slots 68.

hen pedal 50 is moved by the operator, for engagement of the pinion with the gear, such movementwill first cause engagementof the contact-ring 65 with the electric cont acts 62 for closing the circuit through the motor 17 further movement of the pedal in the same direction being permitted for engagement of the pinion with the gear, but further movement of the slide 66 will be pre vented b3: the contact of ring 65 with the contact-members 62 and the yielding of the spring 69 within the tube.

Exemplifying the operation of my machine, when the pedal has been moved sufficiently to engage the contact-ring 65 with the contacts 62 for closing the circuit tln'ough the motor 17 the shaft 22 of the motor will at once have rotation imparted thereto, the inertia of rotation being enhanced by the rotation of the armature therewith, thereby rotating the clutch-member Further movement of the pedal will cause engagement of the teeth of the pinion with the teeth of the gear by endwise movement of the pinion caused by finger d1, any failure of endwise meshing between the teeth being prevented by the end chamfering of said teeth and the slight friction existing between the motor shaft and the wall of the bore of the pinion, which is loosely mounted on said motor shaft.

After engagement of the teeth, a slight positive rotation will be imparted to the pin ion, coincident with the angle of its teeth, until contact is made between the clutchmember 32 and the clutch-member 33. As soon as such contact is made, a positive rotation will be imparted to the pinion as well as a simultaneous axial movement thereof to the extent of the depth of the cooperating teeth upon the clutch-members 32, 33, for causing full engagement between said clutchteeth. As soon as positive engagement between the clinch-members has been effected, positive rotation of the .rotative member of the engine to be started is caused by the pinion, driven by the engagement of the clutch members, meshing with the gear operatively connected with said rotative member for initiating rotation in said engine, this initiation of rotation being made easy by the fact that the nornnl torque of the motor is enhanced by the energy of rotation of the driving shaft and armature of the motor.

The peripheral speed of the pinion, when pe 'ated by the motor, is less than the peripheral speed of the car when the engine is being driven by its own motive force. As soon, therefore, as the engine attains its normal speed, the gear will have a greater peripheral speet. than the naximum driving peripheral speed of the pinion. lVhen, therefore, rotation in the engine has been initia ed and the engine is being driven by its own motive iorce, the pinion will be caused to rotate ata gre t speed than the speed ot the motor shaitt whereby the inclined faces t the teeth oi the clutclrmemher will rli ib upon the inclined faces of the teetl of: the cl 0 1 utchi'iomber 33 for disengagn 5 he clutc i-members and initiating axial movement of the pinion in reverse direction, the axial movement of the pinion in such reverse direction across the face of the gear continued by the iuigularity oi": the teeth. oi. the gear and. pinion which im earls an axial. thrust to the pinion during such. greater speed of rotation of the pinion For moving the same axially away from the gear in a line substantially pa 'allel with the axes of rotation of the pinion and gear.

The pinion is thereby moved out of mesh with the gear and toward the motor, the bearing oi the motor limiting such endwise movement, it being understood that in the meantime the finger 4.1 has been automaticallv moved out of range, or out of the longitudinal projection, of the flange 27 on the pinion. This movement oi. the pinion is accomplished regardless of the position of the operators toot with relation. to the pedal 50.

ii hen the engine has been started, the operator will. release the pedal, and the spring 51 will cause retraction of the rod 20, thereby moving the finger 4:7 and causing it to engage the flange 27 ot' the pinion, for maintaining the pinion on; of mesh with the gea and in idle position.

During this retracting movement of the red, the finger 41-1 will engage the inclined tace 53 of the trip therefor, thus again moving the finger 41 within the longitudinal 1nrojection oil. the flange 27, so as to be ready, at the next movement of the pedal by the operator, to again move the pinion axially toward the gear. The tripping mechanism for the finger ll so arranged that the tinger will pass the flange 27 when being reset,

ator from the pedal will also cause openalthough said flange n'iay be in its fully reing of the electric switch and the consequent stoppage of the motor.

My improved device provides ready means for st; rting the engine by means of parts which are simple nd capable of being com pactly arranged, and which are not liable to get out of order or to be accidentally engaged, but which, it' accidentally engaged, are so constructed and auanged that no detriment will result therefrom.

laving thus fully described my invention, what I claim as new and desire to scciu'e by Letters Patent, is:

l. A starter for engines comprising in combination a pair of gears whose axes o1 rotation are substantially parallel and pro vided with teeth at angles to said axes. means con prising a moving member for causing axial movement between. said gears for causing drive connection between the same, and automatic means moving said moving member to the side oi" the path of said axial movement.

2. it. starter combination a pa rotation are substantial vided with teeth at an 3 es '0 saic. axes, one or said gears arranged tor connection with the engine and the other of sald gears arranged it'or connection with a starting motor, means comprising a moving member for causing axial movement between (aid gears t'or causing drive connection between the same, the angularity of said teeth causing reverse axial movement between said gears upon excess of peripheral. speed of said engine gear with relation to the peripheral speed of said motor gezr, and automatic means moving said moving member out of the path of said reve axial movement.

3. A starter for en ines comp 'ising in. combination a pair of gears wlmse axes of rotation are substantially parallel and provided with teeth at angles to said axes. a driving member and a driven member for said respective gears, a clutching means between one of said members and one it said ears, one oi said members arranged for p ative connection with the engine to be started, and means comprising a moving member for causing axial movement between saic gears for causing drive connection between the same and in said clutching means, and means automatically moving said moving member laterally out of the path of said axia Y movement.

i. starte" for engines comprising in combination a pair of gears whose axes of rotation are substantially parallel and pro vided vith teeth at angles to said axes, a

driving member and a driven memb r for a d respective gears, a clutching means between one oi: said members and one of said gears, said driven member arranged. for op erative connection with the engine to be started and arranged to be converted by said engine into a driving element having accelerated speed of rotation, means comprising a moving member for causing axial movement between said gears for causing drive connection between the same and in said clutching means, the angularity of said teeth causing reverse axial movement be tween said gears during accelerated speed of rotation of said gears caused by said accelerated speed of said driving element, and means automatically moving said moving member laterally out of the path of said reverse axial movement.

5. In a starter for engines, the combination with a gear arranged for operative con nection with an engine for starting the same, of a pinion for driving said gear, the axes of rotation of said gear and pinion being substantially parallel, and said gear and pinion provided with teeth at angles to said axes, a driving member for said pinion, means comprising a moving member for moving said pinion axially for engagement of said teeth, driving means between said driving member and said pinion engaged by said last-named movement, the angles oi? said teeth being such that when the peripheral speed of said gear upon actuation thereof by the engine exceeds the peripheral speed of the pinion axial movement of said pinion away from said gear is caused, and automatic means moving said moving member laterally out of the path of said lastnamed axial movement of said pinion.

6. In a starter for engines, the combination with the crank-shaft of the engine, or" a plurality of gears provided with teeth ex tending at angles to the axis of rotation of said crank-shaft, one of said gears having operative connection with said crank-shaft, means comprising a moving member coacting with a gear of said plurality of gears causing axial movement between said gears for causing drive connection between the same, and automatic releasing means between said moving member and said lastnamed gear whereby said last-named gear moves to the side of said moving member.

7. In a starter for engines, the combination with a gear arranged for initially driving an engine, of a pinion arranged to mesh with said gear, said gear and pinion having substantially parallel axes of rotation and provided with teeth at an angle to said axes of rotation, a drive-shaft for said pinion, a driving connection between said drive-shaft pinion, and manual means comprising a moving member for moving said pinion axially for engagement of the teeth of said pinion with the teeth of said gear and for engagement of said driving connection, and automatic releasing means between said moving member and pinion, the angularity of said teeth causing reverse move ment or said pinion upon excess of peripheral speed oi said gear with relation to the peripheral speed of said pinion.

8. In a starter for engines, the combination with a gear arranged for initially driving an engine, a. pinion arranged to mesh. with said gear, said gear and pinion having substantially parallel axes of rotation. and provided with teeth at an angle to said axes of rotation, a drive-shaft for said pinion, a driving connection between said drive-shaft and pinion, manual means for moving said pinion axially for engagement of the teeth of said pinion with the teeth of said gear and for engagement of said driving connec tion, and a trip operated by said pinion for disengaging said manual means, the angularity of said teeth causing reverse movement of said pinion upon excess of peripheral speed of said gear with relation to the peripheral speed of said pinion.

9. In a starter for engines, the combina tion with a gear arranged for initially driving an engine, a pinion arranged to mesh with said gear, said gear and pinion having substantially parallel axes of rotation and provided with teeth at an angle to said axes of rotation, a drive-shaft for said pinion, a criving connection between said drive shaft and pinion, manual means for moving said pinion axially for engagement of the teeth of said pinion with the teeth of said gear and for engagement of said driving connection, a trip operated by said pinion for disengaging said manual means, the angularity of said teeth causing reverse movement of said pinion upon excess 01" peripheral speed of said gear with relation to the peripheral speed of said pinion, and tripping means for automatically returning said manual means to normal pinio ing position. I

10. In a starter for engines, the combination with a gear arranged for initially driving an engine, of a pinion arranged to be moved axially into mesh with the said gear, a finger adapted to engage tie pinion to axially move the same, and means actuated by the rotation of the said pinion for oisengaging the said linger and pinion.

11. In a starter for engines, the combination with a gear arranged for initially driving an engine, of a pinion arranged to be moved axially into mesh with the said gear, a finger adapted to engage the said pinion to axially move the same, means actuated by the rotation of the said pinion for disengaging the said finger and pinion, and a second finger normally holding the said pinion out of mesh with the said gear.

12. In a starter for engines, the combination with a gear arranged for initially driving an engine, of a pinion arranged to be In testimony whereof, I have hereunto moved axially into mesh With the said gear, signed my name in the presence of two suh- I a finger adapted to engage the said pinion scribing Witnesses.

to axially move the same, means actuated by the rotation 01'' the said pinion for disen- EDWVARD DEUTSCH' gaging the said finger and pinion, and Witnesses:

means adapted to automatically return the THERESA M. SILBER said finger to pinion-engaging position. DAWSON E. BRADLEY.

Copies of this patent may be obtained for five cents each, by addressing the Commissioner of Patents, Washington, D. E, 

